A severe winter storm is heading for Tahoe bringing with it as much as 20″ of new snow! This is great news for Tahoe area skiers who have seen a slow start to the 2013 -2014 ski season.Â
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 237 AM PST THU DEC 5 2013 ...VERY COLD WINTER STORM FRIDAY NIGHT... .LOW PRESSURE WILL DROP SOUTH THE GULF OF ALASKA AND WILL REACH THE EASTERN SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS LOW WILL BRING VERY COLD AIR...GUSTY WINDS...AND A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW. THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS...AND A POWDERY SNOW MAY LEAD TO CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES. ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING... * TIMING: SNOW WILL REACH THE TAHOE BASIN FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW LIKELY FRIDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. * SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: A FOOT OR MORE ABOVE 7000 FEET AND DOWN TO LAKE LEVEL ALONG THE WESTERN SHORE. AT TRUCKEE...SOUTH LAKE AND THE EASTERN SHORE...6 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE. * WINDS: GUSTS OF 30 MPH OR MORE IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS AND GUSTS OF 60 TO 80 MPH OVER RIDGES MAY PRODUCE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING SNOW...LARGE DRIFTS AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. * IMPACTS: HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITY. TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 DEGREES AND GUSTY WINDS WILL LEAD TO BELOW ZERO WIND CHILL VALUES.